Echols Dorm: Brick Wall By Side Door
Swiss, WV - Lower Gauley Take-out
Happy Gauley season! We’ll head out to Swiss Friday night and meet up with a local paddling club called “Coastal Canoeists” who will guide us down the Lower Gauley on Saturday and may be Sunday. You must be a strong intermediate paddler, meaning you should have plenty of experience in class 4 rapids, have good eddy turns and ferrying skills, and have a solid combat roll.
I’ve run the Lower Gauley twice; 2 of the best experiences of my life. I find it about as challenging as the class 4s of the New River Gorge and equally as beautiful. The difference is that the Gauley has fewer flat water places between rapids, but ends with a 2.5 mile section of flat water to the takeout.
My current plan is to stay out there for the weekend, but that may change depending on the level of local rivers (I may come back to lead a trip for beginners on Sunday).
I’m posting the trip for the amount of boats I can carry, but can expand it if people with boat carrying automobiles sign up…
The camp ground at Swiss is awesome: a big field far from civilization and right at the takeout for the lower Gauley run, equipped with 1 portapottie, firepits, and lots of paddlers.
With gas prices high and climbing, the club can’t afford to pay all of the ga$ so you’ll have to pitch in a little, which is the reason for the trip fee. However the club will provide some snacks and food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Sunday, but bring some cash if you want to eat out. The club also pays for lodging and provides any white water kayaking gear you might need, as well as tents, sleeping bags and pads, and other camping supplies.
You should bring: towel, swimwear, clothes (bring warm clothes), flashlight, snacks, water, money, your gear, tent, sleeping bag & pad, toiletries